Quincy gets early OK for new Sterling Middle School

Thursday

Jan 30, 2014 at 1:01 AMJan 30, 2014 at 8:04 AM

The Massachusetts School Building Authority on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to Quincy's Sterling Middle School project, meaning the city is eligible to apply for state aid for a new building. Officials say the existing Sterling facility, which serves 355 students in grades 5 through 8, was built in 1927 and needs to be replaced.

Patrick Ronan The Patriot Ledger @pronan_Ledger

QUINCY – Three months after opening a brand-newCentral Middle School in Wollaston, the city has been given the green light to start making plans for a new Sterling Middle School in southwest Quincy.The Massachusetts School Building Authority on Wednesday gave preliminary approval to Quincy's Sterling Middle School project, meaning the city is eligible to apply for state aid for a new building. Officials say the existing Sterling facility, which serves 355 students in grades 5 through 8, was built in 1927 and needs to be replaced.

The authority's vote at its board meeting in Boston gives Quincy 270 days to conduct a new-building feasibility study and to show the city's financial capability. If plans are approved by the authority, the city likely would be reimbursed for at least 70 percent of the project costs.

Sterling is one of five middle schools in Quincy. In October, a new $32 million Central Middle School opened at the corner of St. Ann's Road and Hancock Street. The final price tag was $50 million, including $18 million for property purchase and other costs, and the school building authority agreed to reimburse the city for 80 percent of construction costs as part of its Model School Program.

DeCristofaro said the Broad Meadows and Atlantic middle schools were built in the 1950s, and the Point Webster Middle School was renovated in the late 1990s. He said they have the structural capacity to handle new programs and technologies that are conducive to 21st-century learning.

Mayor Thomas Koch said the city looked at the possibility of renovating Sterling but decided it would be cheaper to replace the building.

"The building itself I would not consider one of the quality school or municipal buildings in our city," Koch said.

He said the city wants to build the new Sterling building on the campus of the existing school at 444 Granite St.

"My expectation is that we'll build on that site, so we won't have to spend any money on land acquisition," Koch said.

If built, Sterling would be the city's third new school since the city opened its $126 million Quincy High School on Coddington Street.

Patrick Ronan may be reached at pronan@ledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @PRonan_Ledger.